The Casselman River provides excellent trout fishing opportunities for folks living in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Large rainbow and brown trout are stocked each spring and fall, giving anglers the opportunity to catch a trophy-size trout.
The Casselman River is a specially managed fishery ... which means that from October 1 - June 15, fishing is catch-and-release only, and anglers must use artificial lures or flies.
For more information about trout fishing in the Casselman River, click here.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fishing Expo in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison's Fishing Expo will be held February 27 - March 1, 2009. This event is always a crowd pleaser drawing thousands of fishing enthusiasts.
While always a great family event, folks will have the opportunity to get great deals on tackle, boats and trips. Ever wonder what your old fishing lure was worth? Bring it along and have it appraised at the expo.
There will also be plenty of youth activities too including a casting contest, face painting, and more. There will also be a trout pond for kids to fish in this year.
Folks wanting more to learn more about fishing for walleye, bass, muskie, and panfish can attend various seminars at the expo. For a complete list of seminars offered this year at Madison's Fishing Expo, click here.
Entrance fee is $8 for adults (kids 12 and under are free). There's also a $5 parking fee. Proceeds raised from the show will be used to fund fishing related projects throughout South Central Wisconsin.
For more information about Madison's 2009 Fishing Expo, click here.
While always a great family event, folks will have the opportunity to get great deals on tackle, boats and trips. Ever wonder what your old fishing lure was worth? Bring it along and have it appraised at the expo.
There will also be plenty of youth activities too including a casting contest, face painting, and more. There will also be a trout pond for kids to fish in this year.
Folks wanting more to learn more about fishing for walleye, bass, muskie, and panfish can attend various seminars at the expo. For a complete list of seminars offered this year at Madison's Fishing Expo, click here.
Entrance fee is $8 for adults (kids 12 and under are free). There's also a $5 parking fee. Proceeds raised from the show will be used to fund fishing related projects throughout South Central Wisconsin.
For more information about Madison's 2009 Fishing Expo, click here.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
How to Attract Trout While River Fishing
Rivers, streams, and creeks are a lot shallower than lakes - which means that trout can usually see movement on nearby banks. This is why experienced anglers often use care when approaching the water (so as not to startle fish).
It's also important to stay still as much as possible when fishing on the bank. Trout have a wider field of view than we do and can often see us before we see them - and our movement will chase them away.
Likewise, careless wading and walking in the water can result in overturning rocks - which in turn send a signal to trout that you're nearby. This again, will chase them out of the area.
While excessive movement can scare trout away - being still can have the opposite effect. The more safe and secure trout feel, the more likely they will be to swim into an area. This is why trout often hang around submerged logs, undercut banks, and large rocks. These structures give them shelter from predators.
So, if you want to catch trout, you'll want to look for these structures when fishing in rivers, streams and creeks and fish close to them. The next key is to be as still as possible when fishing so as not to startle fish away.
The video below does a good job of demonstrating this point. It was created by my good friend Timothy Kusherets. It's hard to see the fish swimming by him in the first two minutes of the video. But about 30 seconds more into it, the fish become much easier to see as they rise out of the water. Notice how they gradually get closer and closer to Timothy as he continues to remain still.
It's also important to stay still as much as possible when fishing on the bank. Trout have a wider field of view than we do and can often see us before we see them - and our movement will chase them away.
Likewise, careless wading and walking in the water can result in overturning rocks - which in turn send a signal to trout that you're nearby. This again, will chase them out of the area.
While excessive movement can scare trout away - being still can have the opposite effect. The more safe and secure trout feel, the more likely they will be to swim into an area. This is why trout often hang around submerged logs, undercut banks, and large rocks. These structures give them shelter from predators.
So, if you want to catch trout, you'll want to look for these structures when fishing in rivers, streams and creeks and fish close to them. The next key is to be as still as possible when fishing so as not to startle fish away.
The video below does a good job of demonstrating this point. It was created by my good friend Timothy Kusherets. It's hard to see the fish swimming by him in the first two minutes of the video. But about 30 seconds more into it, the fish become much easier to see as they rise out of the water. Notice how they gradually get closer and closer to Timothy as he continues to remain still.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Donaldson Trout Explained
Donaldson trout (sometimes called, "Super Trout") is a special hybrid trout which is part steelhead, cutthroat, and rainbow trout. These trout get their name from the man who originally created this hybrid, Lauren Donaldson. If you're interested, they're officially classified as Oncorhynchus Mykiss (same as steelhead and rainbow trout).
Donaldson became very interested in fish genetics while working in a Montana fish hatchery in the 1930's. The usual practice for raising trout in hatcheries back then was to procure some roe (or fish eggs) from a stream and take them back to the hatchery for raising. Once the fish reached a catchable size, they were released back into the wild.
While this practice still continues today, some folks have taken to playing God by creating their own hyrid strains of trout. Donaldson created his "Super Trout" in 1944 at the University of Washington.
Naturally there are advantages and disadvantages to raising hybrid trout. One of the biggest advantages is that it gives anglers the opportunity to catch "trophy size" trout. This was one of Donaldson's goals when creating his trout hybrid.
Donaldson's trout are unique in that they are not only large and put up a good fight, but can also adapt to salt water (like steelhead). Their ability to adapt and survive in salt water has made them highly sought after for commercial fisheries (especially in Norway, Finland and Japan).
Several fisheries in the U.S. stock Donaldson trout for anglers including Lake Amador (California), Red Hills Lake (Oregon), and the Great Lakes, to name just a few.
Lake Amador is a popular fishing spot for Donaldson trout. The lake has its own hatchery where they raise Donaldson trout. Several tons of trout are released each year in Lake Amador.
When fishing for Donaldson trout, the key is to fish near or just below the surface (no deeper than about 3 feet). These trout tend to hang out near the surface, looking for an easy meal. If you fish too deep, your offering may be out their view. Fishing at night under a flashing bobber has been a successful technique for many shore anglers.
By the way, in case you're wondering how Donaldson trout taste, it's been reported that they taste more like salmon than trout. Many say the meat is more moist and the flavor less intense than salmon.
For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.
Donaldson became very interested in fish genetics while working in a Montana fish hatchery in the 1930's. The usual practice for raising trout in hatcheries back then was to procure some roe (or fish eggs) from a stream and take them back to the hatchery for raising. Once the fish reached a catchable size, they were released back into the wild.
While this practice still continues today, some folks have taken to playing God by creating their own hyrid strains of trout. Donaldson created his "Super Trout" in 1944 at the University of Washington.
Naturally there are advantages and disadvantages to raising hybrid trout. One of the biggest advantages is that it gives anglers the opportunity to catch "trophy size" trout. This was one of Donaldson's goals when creating his trout hybrid.
Donaldson's trout are unique in that they are not only large and put up a good fight, but can also adapt to salt water (like steelhead). Their ability to adapt and survive in salt water has made them highly sought after for commercial fisheries (especially in Norway, Finland and Japan).
Several fisheries in the U.S. stock Donaldson trout for anglers including Lake Amador (California), Red Hills Lake (Oregon), and the Great Lakes, to name just a few.
Lake Amador is a popular fishing spot for Donaldson trout. The lake has its own hatchery where they raise Donaldson trout. Several tons of trout are released each year in Lake Amador.
When fishing for Donaldson trout, the key is to fish near or just below the surface (no deeper than about 3 feet). These trout tend to hang out near the surface, looking for an easy meal. If you fish too deep, your offering may be out their view. Fishing at night under a flashing bobber has been a successful technique for many shore anglers.
By the way, in case you're wondering how Donaldson trout taste, it's been reported that they taste more like salmon than trout. Many say the meat is more moist and the flavor less intense than salmon.
For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Fishing Cripple Creek - Virginia's Private Trout Water
Cripple Creek is a private trout stream in Rural Retreat, Virginia which offers anglers the opportunity to catch trout weighing 2 lbs and over. The creek is small, only about 3/4 of a mile long, but is stocked daily with rainbow trout. Brook and brown trout are also found in Cripple Creek, although they aren't stocked.
Cripple Creek starts in Smyth county, but it's so close to the county line, that most folks associate it with Wythe County. This portion of the creek is privately owned by Ted Baumgardner and has been open to anglers for about a year now.
So if you want to fish Cripple Creek, you must call Ted or Vanessa and make an appointment. There's also a fee of $50/day per person (no discounts for children). Anglers are allowed to catch and keep 6 trout per day though! Anglers do need a valid Virginia fishing license.
In an effort to help protect the fishery, there is a limit to the number of anglers allowed to fish this creek each day. Although group bookings are accepted.
Once appointments are made, check in time is between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. No fishermen are allowed on the creek before check in time.
There are no guide services offered at Cripple Creek. Anglers are expected to fish on their own.
For more information or to make an appointment to fish Cripple Creek, call Ted or Vanessa at (276) 621-4238.
For more information about private trout waters in Virigina, click here.
Cripple Creek starts in Smyth county, but it's so close to the county line, that most folks associate it with Wythe County. This portion of the creek is privately owned by Ted Baumgardner and has been open to anglers for about a year now.
So if you want to fish Cripple Creek, you must call Ted or Vanessa and make an appointment. There's also a fee of $50/day per person (no discounts for children). Anglers are allowed to catch and keep 6 trout per day though! Anglers do need a valid Virginia fishing license.
In an effort to help protect the fishery, there is a limit to the number of anglers allowed to fish this creek each day. Although group bookings are accepted.
Once appointments are made, check in time is between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. No fishermen are allowed on the creek before check in time.
There are no guide services offered at Cripple Creek. Anglers are expected to fish on their own.
For more information or to make an appointment to fish Cripple Creek, call Ted or Vanessa at (276) 621-4238.
For more information about private trout waters in Virigina, click here.
Monday, February 09, 2009
23 New Trout Records in 2008
The International Game & Fish Association (IGFA) approved 21 new trout records in 2008. Of those new records, the breakdown looked like this:
Not to be outdone by his brother Sean, Adam Konrad set another new record in August 2008. His new line class record was approved for catching a 40-lb 10-oz. rainbow trout on 12-lb test line. This rainbow trout is only 3-lbs shy of his world record catch.
The bull trout records were all set by same person (Bo Nelson). All these trout were caught in the Flathead River in Canada in August 2008. Three of the catches qualified for line class records and the remaining two qualified for fly rod records.
Both tiger trout catches qualified for line class records. One fish (13-lbs, 12-oz.) was caught in Washington state in May 2008 and the other (4-lbs) was caught in Wyoming in October 2008.
Justin Van Cleave qualified for two records (line class and junior) when he caught his 2-lb, 12-oz brown trout in the Bear River in Colorado.
Mickey Russo claimed a new line class record for catching an 8-lb, 6-oz brook trout on 6-lb test line. This trout was caught off Long Island in New York.
Pyramid Lake in Nevada is home to the new fly rod record for an 11-lb, 1-oz. cutthroat trout caught on a 12-lb tippet.
Both new lake trout records were recorded in Wyoming. The first lake trout (2-lbs) was caught at Yellowstone Lake by Mark Kemp. This catch set a line class record (12-lb test). A week later, Virginia Kemp caught 2-lb lake trout at Shoshone Lake on a 4-lb tippet (thereby setting a new fly rod record).
There's also two new trout records currently pending. Both of these new records were caught by same man in Wyoming in October 2008. He set a fly rod record for catching a 1-lb, 4 oz brown trout on a 20-lb tippet. Then on the same day, set a line class record for a 3-lb tiger trout on 12-lb test line.
Click here to see trout records set in 2007
Click here for see trout records set in 2006
- 8 new rainbow trout records
- 5 new bull trout records
- 2 new brown trout records
- 2 new lake trout records
- 2 new tiger trout records
- 1 new cutthroat trout record
- 1 new brook trout records
Not to be outdone by his brother Sean, Adam Konrad set another new record in August 2008. His new line class record was approved for catching a 40-lb 10-oz. rainbow trout on 12-lb test line. This rainbow trout is only 3-lbs shy of his world record catch.
The bull trout records were all set by same person (Bo Nelson). All these trout were caught in the Flathead River in Canada in August 2008. Three of the catches qualified for line class records and the remaining two qualified for fly rod records.
Both tiger trout catches qualified for line class records. One fish (13-lbs, 12-oz.) was caught in Washington state in May 2008 and the other (4-lbs) was caught in Wyoming in October 2008.
Justin Van Cleave qualified for two records (line class and junior) when he caught his 2-lb, 12-oz brown trout in the Bear River in Colorado.
Mickey Russo claimed a new line class record for catching an 8-lb, 6-oz brook trout on 6-lb test line. This trout was caught off Long Island in New York.
Pyramid Lake in Nevada is home to the new fly rod record for an 11-lb, 1-oz. cutthroat trout caught on a 12-lb tippet.
Both new lake trout records were recorded in Wyoming. The first lake trout (2-lbs) was caught at Yellowstone Lake by Mark Kemp. This catch set a line class record (12-lb test). A week later, Virginia Kemp caught 2-lb lake trout at Shoshone Lake on a 4-lb tippet (thereby setting a new fly rod record).
There's also two new trout records currently pending. Both of these new records were caught by same man in Wyoming in October 2008. He set a fly rod record for catching a 1-lb, 4 oz brown trout on a 20-lb tippet. Then on the same day, set a line class record for a 3-lb tiger trout on 12-lb test line.
Click here to see trout records set in 2007
Click here for see trout records set in 2006
Fishing Clinics in Truckee-Reno Area
Orvis instructors have several different clinics for fly fishing and fly tying scheduled throughout February. If you're interested in learning more about these things, you'll want to check out the clinics offered.
For more information about these fishing clinics, click here.
For more information about these fishing clinics, click here.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Trout Fishing at Lake Amador
Lake Amador has become a prime trout resort in Ione, California. For those not familiar with the area, Ione is located in North Central California (just South East of Sacramento). It's also just North of Lake Pardee and Lake Comanche (two other popular trout lakes in California).
This 425 acre lake has a maximum depth of 468 feet and approximately 14 miles of fishable shoreline. Lake levels have been down in previous years due to drought, but fishing is still good.
Like Lake Pardee and Comanche, Lake Amador offers large trout (2-6 lbs), commonly known as Donaldson trout (named after the man who created this strain). Donaldson trout are a hybrid cross of Steelhead, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. Lakes do this in an effort to give anglers a "trophy trout" experience.
Because these are hybrid trout raised in a hatchery, they will eat PowerBait. Other trout baits and techniques are effective as well.
One of our readers reported that he witnessed a man catch one the other night at Marina using a small treble hook with Berkeley Trout Power bait. His spinning rod was rigged with a small split shot about a foot above the hook and a red lighted flasher float about 2-3 feet above the split shot. This young man tossed his line out in the dark part of the water (not under the lights) and let the flashing float do the work of attracting trout for him.
Lake Amador also boasts other "trophy" size fish including bass, catfish and sunfish. So if you're looking for a unique angling experience, give Lake Amador a try.
For more information about fishing at Lake Amador, click here.
For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.
This 425 acre lake has a maximum depth of 468 feet and approximately 14 miles of fishable shoreline. Lake levels have been down in previous years due to drought, but fishing is still good.
Like Lake Pardee and Comanche, Lake Amador offers large trout (2-6 lbs), commonly known as Donaldson trout (named after the man who created this strain). Donaldson trout are a hybrid cross of Steelhead, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. Lakes do this in an effort to give anglers a "trophy trout" experience.
Because these are hybrid trout raised in a hatchery, they will eat PowerBait. Other trout baits and techniques are effective as well.
One of our readers reported that he witnessed a man catch one the other night at Marina using a small treble hook with Berkeley Trout Power bait. His spinning rod was rigged with a small split shot about a foot above the hook and a red lighted flasher float about 2-3 feet above the split shot. This young man tossed his line out in the dark part of the water (not under the lights) and let the flashing float do the work of attracting trout for him.
Lake Amador also boasts other "trophy" size fish including bass, catfish and sunfish. So if you're looking for a unique angling experience, give Lake Amador a try.
For more information about fishing at Lake Amador, click here.
For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Fly Fishing for Beginners in Texas
This year Fly Fish Texas will include beginning fly fishing classes for youth between the age of 6 and 18. Upon completion, youth will receive their "basic fly fishing" certification.
Casting instruction will also be offered for beginner to advanced anglers. If you're still struggling to master casting, this is a great opportunity for you.
For more information about this year's Fly Fish Texas event, click here.
Monday, February 02, 2009
2009 Trout Stockings in Virginia
Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has posted it's 2009 Catchable Trout Stocking Schedule online. This schedule shows exactly what waters will be stocked and how often.
For more information about fishing in Virginia, click here.
For a list of private trout fishing waters in Virginia, click here.
For more information about fishing in Virginia, click here.
For a list of private trout fishing waters in Virginia, click here.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Fly Fishing Festivals in 2009
Many states host fly fishing festivals to share the fun and excitement of fly fishing while helping to raise awareness of environmental issues surrounding the sport. Below is a list of some of the Fly Fishing Festivals that will take place in 2009.
January 24-25, 2009 - Atlanta's Fly Fishing Festival
January 30, 2009 - Great Falls (Montana) Fly Fishing Film Festival
February 13-15, 2009 - Little Missouri Fly Fishing Festival
January 24-25, 2009 - Atlanta's Fly Fishing Festival
January 30, 2009 - Great Falls (Montana) Fly Fishing Film Festival
February 13-15, 2009 - Little Missouri Fly Fishing Festival
February 21-22, 2009 - Fly Fishing Show in Pasadena, California
April 18-19, 2009 - Virginia Fly Fishing Festival
May 2, 2009 - Rocky Mountain Fly Fishing Festival
20 Best Trout Flies for Less than $10
Now you can buy 20 of the best trout flies for only $9.95. If you were to buy these flies individually, you'd end up spending over $40. Orvis is offering you the lot for less than $10.
If you're new to fly fishing or just want to add more trout flies to your existing inventory, this is a deal that is too good to pass up.
This fly kit includes 9 dry flies, 7 nymphs, and 4 streamers. These flies make the perfect gift for fly fisher in your life too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)